The Tainted: A Story of Those Under Evil's Curse

Chapter 4: Vinyl Scratch and Octavia: Death Risks and Wishes

I'm weak and a mess of the mare that I used to be.

Octavia the concert Cellist.

Octavia the emotionless and stoic... more like Octavia the weak and defenseless or Octavia the scared.

I had been there... I was there the day that the world had changed; the day the world had become tainted by the last living Discordling.

I thought that the problem would have been eradicated with it's death.

The soft rapping on the door- "Octi?" -the sound of my tense breath- "are you in there?" -the sound of my sigh in annoyance- "please let me in Octavia."

I looked down to my hooves and saw my little toy... I can't let Vinyl see this... I shove it under the pillow before forcing myself off of the bed and then forced myself to the door.

I was trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice by letting my lack of sleep fill the space instead "what do you want?" when I saw her I couldn't help but compare it to how she looked while working on that one album right after I was living with her.

"What have you been doing in here Octi? you haven't answered me for weeks now..." I knew she was worried and regretted answering her this time.

I looked over the the pillow "... just sleeping."

"What are you looking at Octavia?" I couldn't trust my voice and just went over to the window and looked down on the dirty streets "stop ignoring me Octavia!" I just continued to look out at the streets "dammit Octi! why won't you talk to me?!" I took a deep breath "you only treated me like this right after you moved in with me and my parents" -I feel horrid- "what's wrong?"

I lay on the bed with my face buried in the pillow; please leave me alone Vinyl.

"What's going through your mind?" she cuddles up to me as if hopping for some attention "please talk to me dearest" I put my fore hooves over my ears; for the love of Celestia go away; her hooves start to massage my back slightly and I let out the slightest cry at the contact "what's wrong?" I just let out a soft sigh at the slight stress relief.

She rolls me over and I can't bring myself to meet her eyes "please say something... anything" she continues to massage my stiff muscles and I still can't bring myself to look at her "what's on your mind love?" she softly nuzzles against my chest.

I try to squirm out of her grip- "Vinyl I really don't want to talk about it..." -still I can't escape her grip.

"Then just lay with me?" -the hope in her voice is thick with tears- "you don't have to say anything at all..." she pulls me close nuzzling me as her tears start to make my coat wet.

"I..." -should I just tell her everything?- "I need to... I need to use the bathroom" I got up and almost ran to the bathroom where I started to berate myself.

"What am I doing? I was supposed to be gone by now..." I started banging my head on the sink "this is exactly why I'm so weak" I force myself to take long and deep breaths to calm the frustration "do I really want to be gone though... that doesn't matter I have to do it..." I forced myself to leave the bathroom after wiping my eyes of tears.

"Octavia?" I stop dead in my tracks "what is this for?"

Why did she have to look?! no no no no this isn't real! Damnation!

"Octavia?" my head was low as I forced myself to go over to her "are you alright?" I could hear the tears choking her.

I fell on the bed my face finding it's home pressed to the pillow "please speak to me" I felt a sob escape the facade and then her pulling me into a hug I couldn't bring myself to return "what's wrong?"

"Everything!" -I can't hold it in anymore...- "every bucking thing! you barely act as if anything has changed and continue to work on that, music of yours! Lyra and Neon Lights have been missing ever since the day everything changed! most of the elements are either missing or clinically insane! I'm a wreak and can't even bring myself to play the Cello or anything else!"

I try to rip the damned object from her but I'm thrown over her shoulder and then pinned underneath "this isn't a solution for that Octavia!" I continue my struggle against her and catch myself swearing at how much stronger she is than I am "stop it!"

I head butt forward barely catching her to send her sprawling back; with the chance I dive for my friend but as soon as I had it in my mouth I was tackled from behind and it was thrown across the room.

"Stop this! you of everypony should know what this can do to anypony!"

I screamed in frustration.

"I can't do this anymore!" -I nearly brake into tears- "please Vinyl..." -she just wont give up- "come on! it's all I ha-" CRACK! "ow!"

"Don't! say! that!!!" -I've never seen her this furious before...- "are you saying that you don't have me?!" -I started to feel worse and worse by the second- "fine! if I'm not yours then by all means do it!"

She stormed out quickly "Vinyl wait-" Slam! "... come back!" I stared at the ground "damnation... what have I done?"

Suddenly a scream rips through the silence; a scream I recognize.

"Vinyl!" I was out the door shortly trying to find any kind of clue as to where she went off to.

Thump! Thump!

What is that?"

Thump! Thump! oh my God!

Vinyl's music! I turn and run towards the sound and shortly after see her tied up and being carried away.

I dash forward as fast as my legs will take me.

Suddenly a gun is pulled on my; definitely a unicorn.

I find the energy to push myself faster.

Bang!

I feel the bullet skim my cheek.

I continue to run forward the distance quickly being covered.

Bang!

I gasp as I feel the warm trickle of my blood and nearly fall over feeling the white hot lead in my shoulder; but I don't stop, I have to save Vinyl "let the mare go!" my scream sounds different in my ears.

They start firing again and again each bullet finding it's mark somewhere on my body.

I should be dead by now but the adrenaline of my loved one being kidnapped won't let me die until she's safe.

I finally cross the last little bit of distance remaining and hit the first pony I can, hard.

I know I shouldn't be able to move but I keep fighting while they are starting to regain their senses.

Suddenly a hoof swipes past my face fallowed by another braking my shoulder.

Another one slams into one of the wounds sending hot needles into my vision but I continue to fight for my love as my vision is beginning to turn black.

"Why won't she die?!" I start to laugh as I send one flying through the air and then shortly after one of his friends as well.

As they start to run I'm able to take one more out but before I can ask any questions the adrenaline leaves my body at the victory.

"Vinyl..." I crawl despite the desire to just curl up and die "are you okay?" I fall just before I could reach her and despite how I'm bleeding I try to pull myself over to her; the blood in my mouth prevents me from speaking coherently.

"Octavia?" I look up despite the lack of strength through my body "why did you come?" no matter how hard I tried to answer her I couldn't my life about to leave me.

"Help me..." I nearly cried when I got something out that she could understand.

"Shit!" -I'm being picked up- "I'll... Dr. Whooves might be able to help..." suddenly we're moving but I can't tell which direction and as time passes I can only see blurs and shapes.

And then nothing at all.